Dashman's harness examination - April 20

Catch up on the week's harness racing action in our weekly review, thanks to Darren Clayton.

TRISTA TREBLE

Trista Dixon landed a driving treble on Saturday night, highlighted by the dominant display of four-year-old mare Cool And Classy.

Tyson was the first of Dixon's treble.

The four-year-old made a sustained run over the closing stages to overcome a second line gate and lead home a stable quinella as La Cavaletta finished second.

The middle leg of the winning treble was aboard Cool And Classy who scored a strong victory in a qualifying pace.

Content to sit parked outside the leader, Cool And Classy displayed her ability, pulling clear over the final stages to post a big winning margin.

Resuming from a spell at Redcliffe with a track record breaking performance, the four-year-old mare made it two wins in five days with Saturday's win.

Set to tackle the Robin Dundee Stakes this Saturday night at Menangle, Cool And Classy is on the cusp of $500,000 in stake earnings following last week’s deeds.

Dixon's third winner was aboard trotter Zealous Spur.

Zealous Spur found the front soon after the start and led throughout to defeat Aldebaranstilinski.

It was the 23^rd career success for the nine-year-old gelding, with Dixon taking the reins in nine of those wins.

DWYER DAY OUT

Trainer Graham Dwyer enjoyed a two state double last Tuesday with winners at Menangle and Redcliffe.

Im Frankee became the first two-year-old trotting winner of the season for a Queensland trainer.

The filly scored at Menangle with Cam Hart taking the reins.

With two-year-old trotting yet to kick off in the Sunshine State, Dwyer sent the QBRED filly south where she scored impressively, despite some anxious moments after making an early error.

At Redcliffe, the success continued as the stable secured four winners.

Rocky Hunter claimed a QBRED first win bonus for connections with a maiden breaking win in the opening event.

Call It Bling was the second winner on the board.

The three-year-old secured his first win of the season with Matt Elkins taking the drive on both winners.

Nathan Dawson then partnered with the remaining two winners.

Mister Delwin claimed a 14^th career victory and Nellie Joy continued some great form to make it four wins from her past five starts.

Nellie Joy led home a stable trifecta, with Darcys Fireball finishing second and Koda Da Moda holding third.

Proving that racing is a game of ups and downs, Dwyer’s final two runners for the day both finished at the tail of the field in their respective events.

CAIN PLANE TAKES OFF

Leonard Cain had a night to remember at Redcliffe last Wednesday.

He drove five winners on the nine-race card.

Included in the haul was heat two of the 2026 Trot Rods aboard Connies Spirit for trainer Stewart Dickson.

The trio have combined for three Redcliffe wins this season.

Cain has become the regular first-choice driver for trainer Jack Butler.

Cain's five winners on the night were recorded for five different trainers.

Matteo for Luke McCarthy, Captain Foxtrot for Ben Aldons, Denis The Punter for Butler and Vermont for Michael Nutley all benefited from the services of Cain in claiming victory.

Closing in on 900 career wins, it was the first time that Cain has landed five winners at a single meeting.

In reaching the milestone, he became just the sixth driver to achieve the feat at Redcliffe.

Falling agonisingly short of 100 wins last season, after ending the term on 99, Cain is well on the way to bouncing back to a triple figure year.

Currently third on the state premiership and ninth nationally, Cain is two winners away from a half-century of winners in 2026.

SATURDAY SNIPPETS

Training honours for Saturday night at Albion Park were taken by Grant Dixon.

Dixon, who is the leading trainer in the state, produced a quartet of winners.

Along with the three winners driven by wife Trista Dixon, Grant chimed in with a winner of his own.

He gripped on for a narrow victory aboard Charge Ahead.

Meanwhile, Ellis Street resumed from a let up for new owners and a new stable and led throughout for a narrow win in the Junior Free For All.

Now prepared by Donny Smith, the five-year-old produced a 54.9 second closing half to score with Nathan Dawson taking the reins.

It was the 101^st winner in 2026 for Dawson.

Dawson reached triple figures on Friday night.

Ellis Street's win was the first leg of a winning double for Dawson after scoring with Miss Bay King Cole later in the night.

Dawson holds a 46-win lead over Pete McMullen in the state driver’s premiership and sits second behind James Herbertson in the national title.

Also on Saturday night, Lola Weidemann led throughout with the consistent Jekamias to secure her first metropolitan winner for 2026.

Pressing hard to find the lead, Jekamias was able to grip on in the closing stages to land victory by a head margin for a third win this season.

THIS WEEK

There are six meetings programmed this week in Queensland.

There will be three from Albion Park, two from Redcliffe and a Sunday afternoon fixture from Marburg to end the week.

At Menangle on Saturday, several Queensland-trained runners will be pressing their claims for upcoming Group 1 action.

The Robin Dundee Stakes is a qualifying event for the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes and heats of the New South Wales Oaks will also be held.

Cool And Classy, Post Painter and Arrive will chase the Robin Dundee, while the Chantal Turpin stable have four fillies lining up for a place in the Oaks.